27 April 2010

A NASA satellite image of the Gulf of Mexico captured on Sunday shows an extensive oil slick created by last Monday's deadly explosion and sinking of The Deepwater Horizon platform. Authorities and salvage crews are trying to use underwater
equipment to cap the 42,000 gallon-a-day oil leak.

"The spill comes just weeks after President Barack Obama outlined plans
to lift a ban on drilling along the Outer Continental Shelf and expand
offshore oil and gas drilling to within 125 miles of Florida’s coastline
along the Gulf of Mexico. The administration’s plan would also open the
Atlantic coast from Delaware to Florida and Lautenberg and Menendez
said last week they hoped the explosion would “give the administration
and our fellow members of Congress pause. heir effort to expand oil drilling. The bottom line is that when you
drill for oil, there is always a risk that not only puts lives on the
line, but a risk that puts miles of coastline and the economy on the
line as well."

Drill, baby, drill. Another image from a much higher altitude AFTER THE JUMP ...